What’s it like to take classes online? See our video and read through our FAQs. Learn what our Student Services staff can do for you — from your very first conversation to completing your education goals. more »

What’s it like to take classes online? See our video and read through our FAQs. Learn what our Student Services staff can do for you — from your very first conversation to completing your education goals. more »

Program Summary

Continue to Work and Earn an Online Associate Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

The Associate in Science in Human Development and Family Studies (HD FS) integrates practical and academic experiences to provide you with entry-level, professional competencies in the human service fields. The course work can help you gain a foundational understanding of life span and family development, and a core of professional skills that you can apply in program planning and service delivery. Many graduates go on to earn a bachelor’s degree; some eventually enroll in graduate school. No matter what hours you work in your present job, the online HD FS program can help you get a degree without ever setting foot on campus.

Two Options — These options were created to give you a choice so you can focus on an aspect of human development and family studies that best meets your career goals:

The Adult Development and Aging Services option can prepare you for a wide variety of service roles in mental health facilities, or nursing homes and other institutions for the aged. It focuses on the biological, psychological, and social development of adults and elderly persons, with special emphasis on the various contexts of adult development, including work and the family.

The Children, Youth, and Family Services option is an ideal choice if you want to work with various age groups in centers, institutions, and agencies. The program's ultimate goal is to improve the quality of planned services for families from varied backgrounds and community settings.

Applied Learning — This may be an online degree, but preparing for a human services career requires experience working in the field with real people. HD FS students complete an internship at a human service organization in their community. Real world experience will help you build professional networks, establish references, and reflect on what you have learned in the classroom.

Quality — This program was developed in Penn State's Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Development at University Park.

Who Should Apply?

The associate degree in HD FS offers an excellent professional development opportunity if you already work in a human service–related field; it also serves as an appropriate entry point if you aspire to work in human service–related occupations.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

With an associate degree in HD FS, you can work in the human services field, promoting health and preventing social and mental health problems for:

child, youth and families

adults and the elderly

You may also find employment in the following areas:

medical case worker

mental health worker

case manager

school support services

medical and public health services

substance abuse services

The associate degree in HD FS can also serve as a stepping stone to further education if you wish to work as a counselor or social worker.

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than a decade of experience in online learning. We create an online learning environment that offers you the same quality education our residential students experience in a face-to-face setting. Learn more about the Penn State World Campus.

It is about getting an education and learning things that you never learned before, and never realized you needed to know before. You then have the ability to put that into real-world application, and it's very valuable.